Council discusses Hampton Roads regional sales-tax proposal; members express concern about representation and funding distribution
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Summary
Councilmembers debated whether Franklin should support a regional 0.3-cent sales-tax increase to fund transportation and coastal resilience projects in Hampton Roads; some members argued Western Tidewater has been underrepresented and preferred tabling the item until additional information and representation issues are resolved.
Franklin City Council members discussed a regional proposal on Jan. 13 to add a 0.3-cent regional sales tax, with roughly two-thirds of the revenue proposed for infrastructure and one-third for coastal-resilience projects in Hampton Roads. Council commentary focused on whether Franklin and Western Tidewater receive an equitable share of funds and whether the city has sufficient representation in regional decision-making.
One council member urged the city to consider signing on to the petition supporting the tax, saying that infrastructure funding could help local highways and corridors used by Franklin residents. Other members cautioned that past regional processes left Western Tidewater “out of the loop” and recommended not supporting a tax increase without clear representation and assurances that the area would receive funding. One council member summarized the concern as “taxation without representation.”
The council elected to set the item aside for further discussion pending meetings with regional partners; no vote to endorse the tax was taken on Jan. 13. Members asked for additional information from those attending regional meetings and said they would report back after upcoming Western Tidewater and Hampton Roads discussions.
